Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2004 Feb. 7: North)

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Updated on February 8, 2004
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Best time and the azimuth, altitude (A,h) are at lat. 35 deg in the Northern Hemisphere.

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* C/2002 T7 ( LINEAR )


It has been brightening in rapid pace since mid December, and already reached to 7.5 mag. It will be 0 mag in the southern sky in spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is getting lower in the evening sky after this, and will be unobservable in early March. It is not observable until April in the Southern Hemisphere.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7   0 18.39   15 55.8   1.948   1.587    54    7.2     14.7 222.4  18:59 ( 85, 36)  
Feb. 14   0 14.14   14 45.6   1.987   1.480    45    6.9     12.1 219.9  19:05 ( 89, 27)  

* C/2001 Q4 ( NEAT )


It is expected to be 2 mag in spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable around the same altitude in the evening sky until that time. On the other hand, in the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until that time.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  23 11.92  -68 27.9   2.236   1.869    55    8.7      9.2  26.9  18:59 ( 23,-27)  
Feb. 14  23 18.01  -67 34.3   2.131   1.782    56    8.4      9.0  38.6  19:05 ( 25,-29)  

* C/2003 H1 ( LINEAR )


It keeps observable at 12-13 mag in the south until April. In the Northern Hemisphere, it locates 30 deg high, not so high in the south.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  14  9.86  -21 16.8   1.856   2.247    99   12.6     34.8 243.3   5:05 (  0, 34)  
Feb. 14  13 51.70  -23  7.4   1.703   2.242   110   12.4     44.1 248.8   4:19 (  0, 32)  

* 43P/Wolf-Harrington


It will be observable at 12-13 mag in the evening sky until April. But it will be getting lower gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7   1 23.71   14  8.7   1.733   1.629    67   12.5     38.5  85.2  18:59 ( 71, 48)  
Feb. 14   1 42.45   14 32.0   1.770   1.613    64   12.5     39.6  84.9  19:05 ( 74, 45)  

* C/2003 T3 ( Tabur )


Not obesrvable. In the Northern Hemisphere, it will appear at dawn at 12.5 mag. However, because it had been fading since the discovery although it was coming closer to the Sun, the brightness in May is quite uncertain. Then it keeps low until autumn.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  22 25.86  -15 26.7   2.793   1.865    15   12.5     35.7  42.3  18:59 ( 75, -5)  
Feb. 14  22 37.59  -12 18.6   2.762   1.810    12   12.6     36.9  42.2  19:05 ( 80, -7)  

* 2P/Encke


In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until when it becomes fainter than 18 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it appears in the very low sky at dawn in late February, but it will be fainter than 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  20  0.70  -25 59.4   1.796   0.946    21   13.2     44.8  78.9   5:28 (296, -8)  
Feb. 14  20 22.10  -24 55.2   1.895   1.062    23   14.1     40.2  76.6   5:23 (295, -8)  

* C/2001 HT50 ( LINEAR-NEAT )


It is still observable visually at 13 mag, however, it is getting lower and lower in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7   0 37.67    9  0.5   3.994   3.519    54   13.5      1.7 349.2  18:59 ( 74, 36)  
Feb. 14   0 37.81    9 13.8   4.146   3.561    47   13.6      2.3  22.5  19:05 ( 80, 29)  

* 88P/Howell


Curernt brightness is uncertain. It was observed as 16.1 mag on Dec. 31, 1.5 mag fainter than expected. Although it had been expected to reach to 10 mag in spring, it may be 12.5 or 14 mag at best. It is observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere. But in the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps locating lower than 15 deg until June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  18 12.44  -23 56.0   2.077   1.540    44   13.8     48.4  91.4   5:28 (311, 12)  
Feb. 14  18 37.44  -23 56.1   2.016   1.508    46   13.6     49.5  89.0   5:23 (310, 11)  

* C/2003 K4 ( LINEAR )


It will be 6.5 mag in the southern sky from autumn to winter in 2004. It is getting higher in the morning sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable in good condition until early September when it becomes to 7.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  19 52.32   16  9.6   4.336   3.615    38   13.8      8.8  67.2   5:28 (262, 18)  
Feb. 14  19 56.23   16 36.9   4.229   3.539    40   13.6      9.0  60.9   5:23 (264, 21)  

* 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1


It will be too low to observe soon. After conjunction, it will appear at dawn again in May.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  22 58.13   -1 12.7   6.578   5.728    28   13.8     11.8  66.6  18:59 ( 82, 10)  
Feb. 14  23  3.25   -0 39.3   6.627   5.728    22   13.8     12.1  66.2  19:05 ( 86,  4)  

* 58P/Jackson-Neujmin


Not yet recovered in this return. At the previous appearance, it brightened after the perihelion passage and reached to 10 mag. If it behaves so again, it may brighten after the perihelion passage on Jan. 9 and reach to 13 mag in March. However, it keeps locating very low in the evening sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  23 54.69   -7 18.8   2.056   1.428    38   14.6     51.7  72.1  18:59 ( 68, 18)  
Feb. 14   0 17.62   -5 26.0   2.096   1.449    37   14.0     51.1  71.5  19:05 ( 71, 17)  

* 81P/Wild 2


Appearing at dawn and observed as bright as expected. It is fading out gradually after this.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  17 51.06  -20 58.5   2.538   2.042    49   14.3     29.3  90.5   5:28 (312, 17)  
Feb. 14  18  5.36  -20 57.5   2.513   2.081    53   14.4     27.9  89.1   5:23 (314, 18)  

* 123P/West-Hartley


Getting brighter than expected after the perihelion passage. It seems to be observable visually around 13.5 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  13 28.18   10 12.1   1.519   2.180   119   14.4      6.7  99.2   4:23 (  0, 65)  
Feb. 14  13 30.51   10  7.0   1.467   2.192   125   14.3      3.3  97.5   3:58 (  0, 65)  

* 40P/Vaisala 1


The brightness evolution is gradual in this return. So it will reach to 15 mag at best.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  14 55.82   -4 18.4   1.432   1.803    94   15.1     30.0  90.2   5:28 (352, 50)  
Feb. 14  15  9.39   -4 14.7   1.382   1.810    98   15.0     27.9  87.6   5:23 (355, 51)  

* 103P/Hartley 2


The condition is worst in this return. It is not observable around the perihelion passage. It will appear at dawn in autumn, when it will already fade to 15 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  21  3.27   -7 53.8   2.645   1.677     8   15.6     40.6  75.2   5:28 (272,-10)  
Feb. 14  21 22.10   -6 36.9   2.581   1.614     9   15.2     42.5  74.2   5:23 (272, -9)  

* 65P/Gunn


Not observable. It becomes observable again at 15.5 mag after June.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  22 23.51  -18 27.3   3.857   2.919    15   15.3     24.7  68.1  18:59 ( 72, -7)  
Feb. 14  22 34.69  -17 22.4   3.897   2.939    12   15.4     24.5  67.8  19:05 ( 76,-11)  

* P/2002 T6 ( NEAT-LINEAR )


It reached to 15.5 mag in January, much brighter than expected.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7   6 32.28    9 23.7   2.925   3.723   138   16.3      3.9 308.8  21:24 (  0, 64)  
Feb. 14   6 31.26    9 41.5   3.011   3.743   131   16.4      2.9 334.4  20:56 (  0, 65)  

* C/2003 L2 ( LINEAR )


It will be observable around 16 mag until March in the northern sky.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  23 59.74   69 28.2   2.703   2.871    89   16.3     34.4 107.4  18:59 (155, 43)  
Feb. 14   0 40.95   68  2.3   2.752   2.876    87   16.3     34.0 113.1  19:05 (154, 44)  

* C/2003 T4 ( LINEAR )


It is expected to be 5 mag in 2005 spring. Until that time, it keeps observable in the Northern Hemisphere, which the comet will be getting brighter gradually.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7   5  8.68   77  5.9   5.031   5.464   111   16.4      9.5 235.4  20:00 (180, 48)  
Feb. 14   4 54.44   76 24.6   5.027   5.397   106   16.3      8.8 224.6  19:19 (180, 49)  

* C/2003 V1 ( LINEAR )


Fading slowly. It will be observable in good condition until May when it will be fainter than 18 mag.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  10  9.22   49  6.6   3.366   4.212   144   16.6     10.3 279.8   1:05 (180, 76)  
Feb. 14  10  1.97   49 13.6   3.436   4.275   143   16.7     10.1 271.7   0:30 (180, 76)  

* 118P/Sheomaker-Levy 4


It will be fading slowly and become fainter than 18 mag in April.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  12 10.52    2  6.5   1.725   2.527   135   16.6      6.5 332.6   3:05 (  0, 57)  
Feb. 14  12  8.50    2 51.1   1.693   2.556   143   16.7      8.9 320.8   2:36 (  0, 58)  

* P/2002 T5 ( LINEAR )


It is observable around 17 mag until spring.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7   8  2.28   20 10.7   3.190   4.135   161   16.7     10.2 314.4  22:54 (  0, 75)  
Feb. 14   7 58.90   20 59.1   3.243   4.147   153   16.7      9.1 317.0  22:23 (  0, 76)  

* C/2003 G1 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag until early summer, and observable in good condition brighter than 18 mag until October.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  18 40.72   19 53.2   6.211   5.669    52   16.8     13.8  50.1   5:28 (268, 34)  
Feb. 14  18 45.83   20 56.9   6.184   5.695    56   16.8     13.7  46.7   5:23 (270, 38)  

* C/2002 J5 ( LINEAR )


It keeps 17 mag until July.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  17  3.65   39  5.2   5.889   5.815    80   17.0     10.6   0.4   5:28 (251, 60)  
Feb. 14  17  3.36   40 22.3   5.831   5.824    84   17.0     11.4 354.7   5:23 (248, 64)  

* 2003 WN188


Unusual minor planet with a period of 55 years. It becomes to be at peak in mid February, and fainter than 18 mag in late March.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7   9 43.60   27 17.8   1.325   2.296   167   17.2     20.6 351.2   0:39 (  0, 82)  
Feb. 14   9 41.79   29 38.1   1.312   2.276   163   17.2     19.9 349.8   0:10 (  0, 84)  

* C/2003 E1 ( NEAT )


It will be observable at 17.5 mag in good condition until August.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7  17 23.59    6  9.0   3.583   3.246    62   17.5     20.5  84.6   5:28 (296, 42)  
Feb. 14  17 32.97    6 24.5   3.516   3.245    66   17.4     19.7  82.6   5:23 (299, 44)  

* C/2003 W1 ( LINEAR )


It will be fainter than 18 mag soon.
Date(TT)  R.A. (2000) Decl.   Delta     r    Elong.  m1    Mot.(') p.a.  Best Time(A, h)  
Feb.  7   2 16.27   32  9.0   1.827   2.006    85   17.8     40.8 133.3  18:59 ( 90, 67)  
Feb. 14   2 31.74   29  7.6   1.971   2.055    80   18.1     36.4 130.8  19:05 ( 86, 62)  

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